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Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (English)
Петропавловск-Камчатский (Russian)

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at night

Location of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the map of Russia

Coordinates
53°1′N 158°39′E / 53.017, 158.65Coordinates: 53°1′N 158°39′E / 53.017, 158.65

Coat of Arms

City Day: October 17

Administrative status

Federal subject
In jurisdiction of
Administrative center of

Kamchatka Krai
Kamchatka Krai
Kamchatka Krai

Local self-government

Charter

Charter of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Municipal status

Urban district

Head

Vladislav Skvortsov

Legislative body

City Duma

Area

Area

400 km² (154.4 sq mi)

Population (as of the 2002 Census)

Population
- Rank
- Density

198,028 inhabitants
93rd
495.1/km² (1,282.3/sq mi)

Events

Founded

October 17, 1740

Town status

April 9, 1812

Renamed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

1924

Other information

Postal code

683000 (main)

Dialing code

+7 4152

Official website

http://petropavlovsk.kamchatka.ru/

The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In fact, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point of town as volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. Across Avacha Bay from the city is Russia's largest submarine base, the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, (location and satellite photos: 52°55′N 158°29′E / 52.92, 158.49) established during Soviet times and still used by the Russian Navy. [2]

History

Petropavlovsk city was founded by Russian explorer Vitus Bering. Bering reached Avacha Bay in 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the harbor town. He named the new place "Petropavlovsk" (Peter + Paul) after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition.

Petropavlovsk was a great source of fish (particularly salmon) and crab meat for the Soviet Union in the 20th century; however, since the end of the Soviet era fishing rights have been granted to foreign interests.

Climate

The climate is maritime (Köppen Dfc) and precipitation averages are estimated at 860 millimeters (33.9 in), or about three times as much as average in Siberia, with most falling as snow. Temperatures in winter are milder than in Siberia—a typical January day averages −7.3 °C (18.9 °F), while in summer 20 °C (68 °F) constitutes an average July maximum.

Weather averages for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Krai

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Record high °C (°F)

4.4
(40)

3.6
(38)

6.8
(44)

18.1
(65)

20.6
(69)

27.6
(82)

29.4
(85)

27.2
(81)

24.4
(76)

17.8
(64)

12.6
(55)

6.1
(43)

29.4
(85)

Average high °C (°F)

-5.5
(22)

-4.5
(24)

-2.6
(27)

1.1
(34)

5.5
(42)

10.5
(51)

13.9
(57)

15.0
(59)

12.4
(54)

7.4
(45)

0.4
(33)

-4.1
(25)

4.1
(39)

Average low °C (°F)

-10.8
(13)

-10.0
(14)

-8.0
(18)

-3.7
(25)

0.5
(33)

4.8
(41)

8.2
(47)

9.1
(48)

6.3
(43)

1.9
(35)

-4.4
(24)

-8.8
(16)

-1.2
(30)

Record low °C (°F)

-28.6
(-19)

-31.7
(-25)

-24.8
(-13)

-14.8
(5)

-10.0
(14)

-5.5
(22)

0.1
(32)

0.2
(32)

-3.2
(26)

-8.6
(17)

-16.5
(2)

-26.0
(-15)

-31.7
(-25)

Precipitation mm (inches)

69
(2.72)

59
(2.32)

52
(2.05)

53
(2.09)

49
(1.93)

57
(2.24)

75
(2.95)

99
(3.9)

100
(3.94)

133
(5.24)

81
(3.19)

98
(3.86)

895
(35.24)

Source: Погода и климат ³

Tourism

The city has developed a tourist infrastructure. About twenty large tourism companies offer a wide range of services from bear hunting to paragliding. No roads connect the Kamchatka Peninsula to the rest of the world. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the second largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road after Iquitos, Peru. Travel to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is expensive but is growing in popularity because of the remarkable scenery throughout the peninsula. The city is served by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport.

Sister city